Stand Up to Your Veterinarian

[minitzonthesun]

I work for a veterinary surgeon and I do vaccines every weekend. I have to say I agree with you 100% on 100% of your opinions and content. You know what you're talking about. Keep up the good work.

[alienvet]

She awkwardly looks a lot like Cruella deVil....

[K9Author]

It would be more effective, and say more about vets, if you had refuted the information in the video, and had offered facts as proof. Insults about how someone looks are merely rude.

[alienvet]

It wasn't an insult if you thought so. It is just an ironic resemblance. I cannot comment the american veterinarian reality as I am not an american and never been there.

One thing is for sure, a lot of vet schools give more importance to feeding live stock than small animals. While most is not true where I live, like the lack of dental training or the over vaccination plans, there is always the bad veterinarian. Everywhere. Yeah people should get informed.

[K9Author]

Sorry, I jumped to conclusions. I get the Cruella comment from vets and vet techs all the time, and they definitely mean it as an insult. I'm delighted yours wasn't.

[03annlorraine]

Just wanted to say that you seem like a person the vet and staff would dread seeing on the schedule lol.The only time we MAKE owners vaccinate is if they need it for boarding/state law requirements or just want it. Maybe if people wouldn't buy crappy Ol' Roy from Walmart dog food, they wouldn't have to worry about dead animals in their dog food. And I am super offended about the comment about the vet techs doing the dental cleaning. Most people's dogs wouldn't get the care they need without us.

[K9Author]

If your vet and staff dread seeing a client who is informed and advocates for their pets, what does that say about your practice? My vet loves that I do my homework. Also, I'm not against vet techs doing the cleaning of teeth.They have more experience doing it than most vets. I'm just against practices that don't reveal who is doing the work.  Most people presume a vet is in there the entire time, which is seldom true.

[Geebrr]

Yes, all vets make some mistakes. But the complexity of human care that results in problem mistakes is not the same as vet procedures at all. I feel much safer with DVMs than with MDs - as they give direct care and MDs have to deal through insurance agencies. Animals are animals and a good vet understands how to extrapolate from species to species.

[Fearghais]

I just wanted to put a little bit in about the dental care mentioned in this video. I hope people viewing this will not feel less confident about having dentistry done because a vet tech does the work. Veterinary technicians are typically well trained and professional dental service care givers. I am a registered veterinary technician (registered animal nurse) and have pretty extensive training in dental prophylaxis - please do not worry about techs doing dental work on your cats and dogs.

[jezebellexinhell]

Most vets go into veterinary medicine because they love animals. What you're saying is true, and is disturbing to me as a pet owner. There has to be a way to make sure that veteranarians' expertise, training, and passion can be channeled into something besides being glorified pharmaceutical reps.

[skrawburriez]

I am going to school to be an RVT registered veterinary tech and what you have said is completely ignorant, you keep stating how you have so many veterinarian friends, and im sure if that was true than they would have advised you on many points you have stated....for instance, dogs are more comfortable and less stressed under anesthesia during a dental prophylaxis procedure and your dog looked very uncomfortable with the procedure it had. not to mention that it usually takes at least an hour ...

[K9Author]

I get my information from vet techs and vets. If you listen to my dental video, you'd know that I think most non-anesthetic practitioners are untrained and many are even cruel. On the other hand, some are great and the animals are no more stressed than you and I are having our teeth cleaned. I hope you'll go into the field with your eyes open.

[davidnightingale]

5 stars Dogs (generally) are our friends, they trust us. How would we treat a human friend who could not express in words their concerns? Dogs take risks and will take a stand to protect their owners. They show great courage. Should we show courage to help them?

[camfay77]

Wait a moment. "Your dog needs an advocate". I'm a vet, and all day, I see examples of owners who aren't advocates for their own pets. So before you dismiss some vets as pushy, be aware we're often the only people acting in the pet's interests.

[WillBackbone]

Most Vets don't have a clue when it comes to Dog nutrition they sell a lot of science diet because they get a kick back. Now I really like my Vet, I consider him my friend have his cell #. Overall I trust him but he doesn't know about nutrition or I can keep my dog's teeth clean. One of my girlfriends is a Dental surgery tech and she has experience with teeth. My dogs teeth are very clean. I know my dogs better than anyone but I do have a Vet I can trust and yes I call him by his first name.

[diwolu1]

Large animals are just as important to be knowledgeable about as small animals!

[ExceptionalImpaction]

My vet got really mad at me the other day when I called him by his first name and refused to let him treat my dog with drugs for heartworm. My backyard is fenced in and I feed Jorge a raw diet - how is he going to get heartworms?! It's just a scam to get money from me. And then he had the b@lls to try and charge me an exam fee - even though we waited for 10 MINUTES before being called in to our appointment! Just because he went to school for 8 years doesn't make him smarter than me!

[diwolu1]

You had an exam, therefore you should be charged an exam fee. He took the time out to see you so he needs to be paid for his time. (10 minutes isn't long either!! I'm sure you wouldn't want the vet to cut your visit short so he could get to his next appointment on time.) Also, he went to school for 8 years and IS more informed about animal care than you are, but not necessarily smarter than you. (Even though you should have said "doesn't make him smarter than I")

[elaphe21]

ExceptionalImpaction - You do realize that neither a fence nor a raw diet will stop mosquitoes or heart worm... right?

Even if your don't care if you dog gets heart worm, if you dog is not on preventative, the dog will serve as a vector for other dogs in the area.

Is 10 min. a long time for you to wait?

Your right, going to school for 8 years doesn't make him smarter then you... it must be something else

[diwolu1]

Heartworms are transmitted through mosquitos so a fence won't stop them!

[ilovemycatoreo]

I'm training for vetrerinary technician.. All I can say to this is that, that doctor is very unprofessional. I would not refuse an animals need for care if I had a bad day or if someone called me by my first name. I would actually PREFER them to call me by my first name because it makes it easier to talk to the person without saying miss and mr... Please don't get vetrerinarians wrong, they are there for a reason when you start doubting your own capability of taking care of your pets.

[annelisebauman]

You cannot imagine how relieved I felt after watching your video. It is wonderful having someone like you around.

[Engled974]

Jan's book saved us hundreds of dollars in vet bills. More importantly, it dramatically improved Spirit's quality of life. Spirit is a 9-years-old Shih Tzu, formerly a puppy mill momma. She needed tons of TLC, quality nutrition, dental care and medical care - all designed with regard to her breed, life history, our geographic location and more. This is some of what Jan helps dog guardians do. I encourage my friends to read her book and then draw their own conclusions. We give her a thumbs up!

[jchapm2]

As far as vaccinations and titers as well... I mean I am all for titers especially in cases of the senior pet, but you make it seem as if titers a God. Titers sometimes do not replace vaccinations due to rules and regulations in the state and different facilities. Also, dead animals do end up in pet food... mostly the cheap, supermarket brands... but don't you think that the same applies to human foods? Just do research about the foods, end of story.

[jchapm2]

1 of 3: Lastly, your comment that "50% of Veterinarians graduate at the bottom 1/2 of their graduating class." If you were to sit down and do the math and also think about what you said... You would realize that 50% = 1/2! Of course 50% of veterinarians graduate in the bottom 1/2 of their class. The entire class could have 4.0 GPA's, then because your last name begins with a Z... You now graduate last in your class. Stop and think logically, as well as speak. Your words can also hurt!

[K9Author]

Sorry to offend anyone. This was not meant to be taken so literally. It is just to help people feel less insecure about talking with their vet.

[jchapm2]

2 of 3: Heartworm medication also helps the prevention of many other parasites besides heartworm, such as roundworm and whipworms, which can be easily transmitted in high traffic animal places, like doggie daycare. Essentially, your comments about heartworm testing and prevention could potentially scare people away from using heartworm preventative and cause their pets to contract other problems.

[jchapm2]

3 of 3: Interesting stuff there K9Author... I have trouble with a few of your comments though. In regards to vaccines and titers, what about state laws and regulations as well as pet facility regulations? Titers DO NOT replace vaccination in many instances, such as regulations in dog parks.

[missariat]

Oh and may I ask...doesn't your dental hygienist clean your teeth after your dentist has fully examined your mouth? Why should there be any snarky comments about qualified veterinary techs scaling and polishing during dentals? Don't they have a right to charge for their professional services?

[K9Author]

My hygienist spent two years studying nothing but teeth and gums and took an exam before becoming certified. And she charge 3-5 hundred dollars (or more) to clean my teeth. There are many vets who charge exorbitant fees and aren't even in the room. How do I know? Vets and vet techs tell me. Most of the vets don't even have hands-on training. How do I know? Vets tell me. Also, a veterinary dentist trains vets in our town for free because he is so shocked at the state of care.

[missariat]

I've been a person for 26 years but I dont know everything about how the human body works! Just because someone has owned dogs doesn't automatically make them an expert. Some vets may not own a dog because they do not have the time to commit to one. There are way too many crazies out there to recommend people just randomly choose a site, I hope you actually link to the ones you find useful and reputable on your webpage.

[aviangirl]

Dental hygients are the ones that clean your teeth, not the dentists. Why do you think veterinary medicine would be different? Also, if you went through all the trouble of going through vet school, wouldn't you want the recognition and respect of being called doctor and not just by your name. This is an earned and respected title. I do not know where you are getting your info but we get more training in small animal than large animal (but these animals are still very important, don't you think?)

[aviangirl]

We have just viewed your video and checked out your website for your credentials. I have a hard time connecting BS in business, flight attendent, and computer jobs with science and medicine. You are mixing some facts and your personal opinion and skewing veterinary medicine. You are clumping all vets together and making them sound bad. Vet students have classes in nutrition and pharmacology, which are taught by boarded veterinary specialists in those fields (not by drug and food company reps).

[K9Author]

The information in my videos and articles comes from veterinarians. They were the ones who told me about the conflicts of interest. I am not a scientist, but I read studies and consult with scientists. I have no monetary motives and I do not clump vets together. Some are wonderful. Some aren't. I think the same thing about medical doctors. It's up to the client to advocate for their own, or their dog's health.

[Jessss2008]

you can sit around and act like you know everything about how to care for the dog, but when you go to the vet, you go for a reason....and that reason is YOU don't know what you do...

a GOOD vet will take care of the animal and make sure they get what they need.

[K9Author]

I don't know everything, nor do I pretend to. I do know enough to ask questions and to not fear questioning authority, as I suspect you do. I have many vet friends I consult regularly. In fact, I just got off the phone with my vet. They are among my closest friends. It is not the good vets with which I take issue.

[jen6018]

(continued from earlier comment!).

I recommend vaccinations because I have unfortunately seen too many animals suffer/die from easily avoidable viruses.

I agree that, like medical doctors, not all vets are good, but please do not paint our porfession with that brush as the majority of us are highly skilled clinicans with genuine compassion for the animals under our care, and their owners.

I do not want to be a figure of authority but I do want my knowledge, skills and advice to be respected.

[K9Author]

I'm not against vaccinating, just OVER-vaccinating. I'm also not against vets. Most of my friends are vets; they were the ones who taught me about the problems at some practices. People write me all the time about wanting to feed better or vaccinate less; their vets just don't want to listen. I'm just trying to help.

[jen6018]

A good vet will always explain everything in detail and ensure owner's understand everything before doing it. If your vet doesn't or you are unhappy for any reason, seek a second opinion.

I spent 3 years studying pharmacology at university, like most vets I take information from drug companies sceptically as I intelligent enough to know the info they give is for their own gain.

It is commonly recognised by all veterinarians nowadays that many skin problems are commonly due to food allergies.

[netami13]

When you go to a dentist, it is usually the dental assistant who does the cleaning, why is it such a big deal for a technician to scale and polish teeth? Credentialed technicians have had to earn a degree and take a national board exam to get their license.

Your video is hostile towards the veterinary profession and further alienates clients who already don't want to listen.

We are not evil and scamming! I couldve have done something else if I was wanted money. I do what I do for the animals.

[K9Author]

There are many wonderful vets and techs. I never said there weren't. But there are a lot of vets that over-vaccinate (with disastrous results), fail to inform clients properly, and who recommend inferior foods and dangerous meds. My goal to help people see the difference and have the courage to advocate for their pets.

[Flufferz626]

I am in Pre-vet right now. A good vet listens to what you are saying and wants you to say stuff. Most vets now know about all the different natural stuff. The one I worked for always advocated Omega 3 fatty acids, ground hemp seed, and other herbals for helping dry skin from allergies. Homecooked diets are okay, as long as you know what you are doing.

Most vets are not in this profession for the money. We genuinely want to help the animal

[hunkymonkeykaine]

We will go and check out your website, blog and book. Thank you for sharing the truth with the world. We just favorited this video too. My sister's Jack Russell Terrier, Jesse, had allergies and the Vet kept telling us that it WASN'T his food and that he needed to have monthly steroid shots and pills.

He was on the shots for awhile, but that made my sister uncomfortable (side effects). Plus, they were not working. She switched him to a homecooked diet and his allergies cleared up.

[cculbert]

I'm a veterinary student right now at the Ontario Veterinary College, and I think that this video should be called "communicate with your veterinarian". If you go to a good vet, you shouldn't have any of these problems! If you ask a question that your vet doesn't know he/she should give you a source that can help you with your question!

We dedicate our lives to the health and well being of animals. We want to help you and we do want the best for your animal!

[Nachrichten69]

OK, answer this question; why does my Vet office close at 7pm( animals can't stay over night) and the Animal Hospital in another location which opens at 7pm and closes at 7am(the animal has to be picked up in the morning) Is this back and forth bullshit for my convienance?

Oh, and I live in Ontario...........

[rrsca]

Another great video, Jan. Keep up the great work. My dogs are counting on you.

[askapalaphagy]

Thank you Jan for the advice. I was wondering if you had a similar website for cats.